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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 

BUREAU OF nSHERIES 

GEORGE M. BOWERS, Commissioner 



MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH 
RIVERS OF EASTERN TENNESSEE 



Investigation by J. F« Boepple 
Notes compiled by R. E. Coker, Ph. D. 



Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 765 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PI^INTING OFFICE 

1912 



.Us Qn 



MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH 
RIVERS OF EASTERN TENNESSEE. 



Investigation by J. F. Boepple. 
Notes compiled by R. E. Coker, Ph. D. 



Early in October, 1909, Mr. J. F. Boepple, shell expert in the 
employ of the United States Bureau of Fisheries at the biological 
station at Fairport, Iowa, entered upon a brief investigation of the 
mussel resources of the Holston and Clinch Rivers of eastern Ten- 
nessee. Mr. Boepple having died before his notes were compiled 
for publication, the information he obtained has been assembled in 
the present form. 

HOLSTON RIVER, NEAR MORRISTOWN, TENN. 

The investigations were begun by Mr. Boepple in the vicinity of 
Morristown, Tenn., where a pearl fishery was then in progress. One 
of the regular pearl seekers having been secured as a guide, a visit 
was made to the Holston River at Three Springs, about 14 miles 
distant from Morristown, where the piles of discarded shells were 
first examined. Despite the fact that the only object of the fishery 
as pursued at this place was the quest of pearls and the fishermen 
were ignorant of the market value of shells, it was observed that the 
discarded shells had a substantial commercial value for the purpose 
of button manufacture. Examination of the mussel beds of the river 
was also made, the principal shells obtained being muckets with 
some three-ridges and a few long niggerheads. An interesting 
feature of the beds at this point was the presence of numbers of very 
young mussels which were found to hang from other shells "by 
threads as fine as the fdaments of a spider web." Several of them fell 
off as the shells were brought from the water into the boat. Some 
of these juvenile specimens as identified in the field were fluted 
shells and muckets. 

Collecting in the river was pursued at various places, the result 
being about the same in each instance; muckets were always the 
principal shell taken. There were several small islands overgrown 
with rushes where feeding places of the muskrats were found, and 

£4052°— 12 3 



4 MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 

at such points mam' small shells were taken. It was noted by Mr. 
Boepple that a number of live mussels were found at these jdaces; 
this was taken to mean either that the muskrats held a reserve 
supply or, as he considered more probable, that they were unable to 
open some of the specimens. Small mussels were also found on the 
stones in the river. 

After working, for two days at this point a collection of 100 pounds 
of shells was taken to Morristown for more careful examination with 
reference to commercial value. 

The following description of the river is copied from Mr. Boepplc's 
field notes : 

The Holstxin River is at this place quite a large stream a quarter of a mile wide, yet 
not deep, from 1 to 3 feet. The bottom of the stream is of- gravel and rock, at places 
flat rock, and at some points in the shoals only rock. It was hard to get to these places 
with a small boat, yet my helper knew every point in the stream. The water was 
almost clear, yet somewhat milky, and one could see only about 4 feet deep. The 
banks were bluffs. On the north side one could see the Clinch Mountains in the 
background. There were likewise places in the river one-half to 1 mile in length where 
the river was narrow and deep and practicalh'^ without current. 

Previous to this visit a report had been received that pearls were 
being fished on the Holston, Clinch, and Powell Rivers and that the 
shells were being thrown into the river as without value. This 
report was fully substantiated, for wherever examination of the 
bottom could be made numbers of dead shells were observed that 
had evidently been thrown back into the river by the pearl fishers 
after examination for pearls; likewise large piles of shells amounting 
to several tons in each pile were seen in places on the main 
bank and on the shores of the islands. After careful examination of 
these heaps it was found that about 60 per cent of the discarded shells 
were good muckets, about 20 per cent long niggerheads, while a 
considerable number were three-ridges. 

Some information was obtained in regard to the pearl fishery. 
During the three years immediately previous there had been 10 to 
12 men fishing for pearls in this vicinity, often working for two or 
three weeks before finding anything of real value. Mr. Boepple was 
informed by his guide, a reliable pearl fisher, that during these three 
years he had found one pearl for which he received $800, another 
which brought him $410. He had also found several for which he 
received from $10 to $50 each. A number of pieces which he then 
had in hand were observed, all of which possessed a good luster. 
The principal season for pearling is during the months of July, 
August, and September. 

Advice was given to the pearl fishers in regard to what species of 
the shells possessed a commercial value, and in regard to the market 
for such mateiial. It was also explained that many of the shells 
previously discarded were not yet ruined for market purposes; so 



MUSSEL RESOUECES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 5 

that a good return might be obtained by sorting these out until a car- 
load lot was .obtained. It was the opinion of Mr. Boepple that 
although among the dead sliells in the river and along the banks 
many were without value, yet several carloads of good shells could 
be found. It has been learned since that the information given by 
Mr. Boepple was availed of, and that a considerable quantity of 
good shells from this region have reached the market. 

Several species of mussels were found to be "spawning" (gravid), 
namely, muckets, pocketbook, fluted-shells, kidney-shells, and fan- 
shells. The proper scientific names of these species will be found in 
a hst given below, showing the mussels found at this place with an 
approximate estimate of the commercial value of the shells. Par- 
ticular attention was given to a test of the value of the yellow-back 
and green-striped mussels, which are the principal shells of these 
beds. 

Shells Collected in the Holston River near Morristown, Tenn. 



Common name. 



Scientific name. 



Commercial 

value per 

ton. 



Yellow mucket 

Green-striped mucket. 
Large black mucket. . . 

Pocketbook 

Fluted-shell 

Tliree-ridge 

W hite pig-toe 

Niggerhead 

Long niggerhead 

Hatchet-back 

Spectacle-case 

Black sand-shell 

Elephant-ear 

Purple pimple-back. . . 

Kidney-shell 

Spike 

Paper-shell 

Sugar-spoon 

Oyster mussel 

Rabbit-foot 

Bullhead 

Similar to niggerhead . 
Ringed pimple-back. . 

Fan-shell 

Fork-shell 



Lampsilis ligamentina gibba" 

Lampsilis ligamentina 

do 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Symphynota costata 

Quadrula imdulata 

Quadrula obliqua 

Quadrula ebena 

do 

Lampsilis alata 

Margaritana monodonta 

Lampsilis recta 

Unio crassidens 

Quadrula granifera 

Ptychobranchus phaseolus 

Unio gibbosus 

Lampsilis gracilis 

TrunciUa arcaeformis 

Truncilla perplexa 

Quadrula cylindrica 

Pleurobema sesopus 

Quadrula subrotunda 

Cyprogenia irrorata 

Dromus caperatus 

Truncilla lewisii 



$79.80 
79.80 
12.00 
12.00 



10.00 
10.00 
1.5.00 
15.00 



15.00 



C) 



10.00 
15.00 
15.00 
20.00 



a "Yellou' mucket" may include also specimens of L. orhiculata; "green-striped mucket" may include 
both L. ligamentina and L. ligamentina gibba. 
b Of value for souvenir or fancy articles. 

Seven valves, or three and one-half complete shells, give a weight 
of 1 pound, and produce 8 dozen button blanks, according to which 
test 100 pounds would produce a little more than 57 gross of 168 blanks 
per gross. Estimating the material at a conservative figure of 7 cents 
a gross makes the value of .57 gross $3.99, or the value of the blanks 
from a ton of shells $79.80. The black muckets are not equal in 
quality to the other muckets, which are indeed exceptionally fine. 
The black muckets show many spots which would cause considerable 
waste. Yellow muckets and green-striped muckets constituted 40 



6 MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 

per cent of the catch, while 20 per cent were large black muckcts 
and 20 per cent three-ridges. It will be understood that the valuation 
was based on the contemporary market, that a number of species 
were not tested out and tliat the figures are to be taken as being 
only approximately correct. 

A later and more careful valuation of species is given below: 



Common name. 



Yel ow mueket. 

MucUet 

Flat niggerhead 
(Not given) 



Scientific name. 



Lampsilis ligamentina gibba 

Lampsilis ligamentina 

Quadrula coccinea 

Species uncertain 



Niunber 
blanks 

per 
pound 

of shells 



Gross 
per ton. 



1,107 
440 
799 
392 



Size of 
blanks. 



Lines. 
20 
20 

18 
20 



Value 

j)er 
gross. 



Cents. 
7 
5 
3 
4 



Valuo of 
blanks 
\h;t ton 

of shells. 



?77. 49 
22.00 
23. 97 
15. 6& 



HOLSTON RIVER, NEAR STRAW PLAINS, TENN. 

After a week spent in completion of the investigation in the vicinity 
of Morristown, a visit was made to Straw Plains, Tenn., where it was 
understood that a pearl fishery was prosecuted. The Holston River 
had then risen about 2 feet and the water was very 3'ellow and muddy. 
Heaps of mussel shells were observed on the banks, but the fishermen 
had left this place and were found at a point on the river 3 miles 
above Straw Plains. 

Observations were made of the piles of shells about the camps of 
the fishermen; the shells looked quite fresh, but were then partly 
submerged by the rise of the river. Unfortunately, it was not possible 
to work on the beds in the river, since no sound boat was available. 
It was noted that about 65 per cent of the shells taken by the pearlers 
were good muckets of like value with those collected at Three Springs. 
The niggerhead shell occurred in the proportion of about 15 per cent^ , 
while other species were present in limited quantities. A consider- 
able number of the shells were taken to Knoxville, where there was 
opportunity to sort and observe them more carefully. 

The following is a list of species collected: 

Species of Mussels Collected in Holston River, Near Straw Plains, Tenn. 



Common name. 


Scientific name. 


Common name. 


Scientific name. 




Quadrula obliqua. 
Obovaria retusa. 
Lampsilis recta. 
Unio crassidens. 
Quadrula cbcna. 
Lampsilis ventricosa. 
Quadrula undulata. 
Quadrula tuberculata- 
Dromus eaperatus. 
Lampsilis alata. 
Lampsilis gracilis. 


Kidney-shell 


Ptvchobranchus phaseo- 


Golf-stick 


Flutedrshell 


his. 








Pim pin-back 


Quadrula pustulosa. 




Long piiii pie-back 

Sugar-spoon 


Quadrula pustulosa. 




Truncilla arcael'ormis. 




Large niucket 

Green-striped mueket. 
Yellow-back mueket. . 

Spike 


Lampsilis ligamentina. 


Purple pimple-back. . . 
Fan-shell . . 


Lampsilis ligamentina. 
Lampsilis ligamentina 


Hatchet-back 


gibba. 




Unio gibbosus. 









MUSSEL EESOUECES OF THE HOLSTON AXD CLINCH RIVERS, 



HOLSTON, FRENCH BROAD, AND TENNESSEE RIVERS, NEAR KNOXVILLE, 

TENN. 

Through the kindness of Mr. Curtis, a jeweler and pearl dealer in 
this city, there was opportunity to examine a valuable local collection 
of pearls and baroques. It was desired also to examine the French 
Broad River, near its union with the Holston River, where they fcrm 
the Tennessee, and a boat and competent guide having been secured, 
Mr. Boepple proceeded up the French Broad a distance of 5 miles to 
the shoals. The beds were then examined by working down stream. 
With each haul four to six mussels were obtained, chiefly the ele- 
phant-ear. It was reported that at a distance of 20 miles up this 
stream a large proportion of good white shells were obtainable. 

After entering the Tennessee River similar conditions prevailed, 
only elephant-ears and a very few white shells being taken. It was 
learned that below Knoxville there was a shoal with gravel bottom 
where many mussels were to be found, but without pearls. Conse-r 
quently the local informant had no knowledge of the varieties of the 
shells constituting this bed. A few days later it was found practical 
to visit the shoals referred to. A haul was begun at a point 200 feet 
above the shoals and continued through the shoals into the quieter 
water below. Each haul extended over a distance of 20 to 50 yards 
and each time 12 to 24 mussels were taken on a drag bearing 48 hooks. 
This was the condition just above and on the shoals. Mussels were 
obtained throughout the entire width of the river, and some were 
taken in the quieter water below. After the boat was filled with 
mussels, a count showed that 90 per cent were elephant-ear and 10 
per cent pig-toes, muckets, and others. 

The elephant-ears have no value, pig-toes were of the same value 
as corresponding shells of the Ohio River. The monkey-face corre- 
sponds in value to the pig-toes ; white pimple-backs were comparable 
to niggerheads in value. Muckets were of poor quality, the shells 
being so thin as to produce cliiefly tips, while the thicker part had 
little luster, was chalky, and accordingly not susceptible of polish. 
They were also partly spotted. A list of shells taken in tlie vicinity 
of Knoxville is given below: 

Species op Mussels Collected in Vicinity of Knoxville, Tenn. 



Common name. 


Scientific name. 


Common name. 


Scientific name. 


French Broad River. 
Elephant-ear 


Unio crassidens. 
Lampsilis ligamc ntina. 
Quadrula obliqua. 
Quadrula ebena. 

Unio crassidens. 
Lampsilis ligamentina. 
Quadrula obliqua. 
Lampsilis ventricosa. 


Tennessee River, 4 
miles below Knox- 
ville. 








Pig-toe 


Unio cras!^i(iens. 
Quadrula obliqua. 
Lampsilis ligamcnt^'a. 


Niggi-rhead 








Tennessee River below 




Quadrula metanevra. 


the Forks. 




Quadrula pustulosa 


Elephant-ear 


Purple pimple-back. . . 


Quadrula tuberculaia. 






Pig-toe 




Pocketbook 









8 MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 

The French Broad River is described as being navigable, the 
channel having been improved in some places through the construc- 
tion of dams by the Government; the bottom is coarse gravel; in 
places the river is bordered by farm land, while in other places steep 
chfFs of rock border the stream. Marble quarries were noted. Marble 
banks were also observed along the Tennessee River, while the bottom 
of the stream was a coarse gravel. 

The presence of marble or limestone along the banks or the bed of 
a stream constitutes a most favorable factor for mussel growth, since 
the erosion of the rocks keeps the water supplied with the carbonate 
©f lime, which is the principal constituent of the shell. The stream 
was quite large and, except on the shoals, quite deep; there were 
places where the bottom could not be reached with a sounding pole 
10 feet in length. Not one mussel was observed to be gravid, although 
it was thought that the mussels of some species were preparing to 
gpawn. 

It was found that pearls were bought and sold on the streets of 
Knoxville. Private collections were also observed, and a wide variety 
of pearls and slugs of good quality were seen. Since it was learned 
that most of the pearls come from the Clinch River, Mr. Boepple pro- 
ceeded at once to make an examination of the mussel beds of that 
river from Dutch to Clinton, Tenn. 

THE CLINCH RIVER FROM DUTCH TO CLINTON, TENN. 

Investigations on the Clinch River were begun October 25, 1909, 
at Dutch, Tenn., near the raikoad bridge, where shells could be taken 
by wading. The water was sufficiently clear to distinguish mussels 
on the bottom at a depth of 2 feet, but they were found to be very 
scattering. At the Sycamore Shoals fishing was undertaken with the 
rake. Chiefly small mussels were found both above the shoal and in 
the shoal, but not immediately below. 

The bottom of the river here was of rough gravel and sand; there 
were a good many reefs ("hogbacks") and in some places the rocky 
bottom took the form of steps, over which it was difficult to work the 
small boat. Between the reefs the water was so clear that mussels 
could be seen at a depth of 4 feet. On both banks were blufts of lime- 
stone rock. 

The following mussels were found to be in breeding condition: 
Muckets {Lampsilis ligamentina) ; yellow-back muckets (L. liga- 
mentina gibha); pocketbook {L. ventricosa) ; a small mucket, species 
uncertain; a fluted-shell {Symphynota costata); oyster mussel (Trun- 
eilla perplexa); the black sand-shell (L. recta). Large numbers of 
mussels discarded by the pearl fishers were observed in the river, and 
a httle farther down were piles of shells on the banks containing as 
much as 2 tons, 75 per cent of which were shells of the best muckets. 



MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 9 

The investigation was continued by working down the river in a 
small rowboat with a competent local guide. On the following day, 
after collecting on many small shoals, thfe party reached Walker's 
ferry, where a remarkably abundant mussel fauna was encountered. 
Although the water was very clear it was difficult to see the mussels 
on the bottom, and they were best taken with the rake. Several 
tests were made by digging holes in the bottom, and mussels were 
found in every case. In one instance a hole 2 feet wide by 2 feet long 
was excavated for a depth of 10 inches, and 66 mussels, representing 
10 different species, were taken. This represents an average of 16 
mussels to the square foot of bottom surface, a very remarkable 
degree of abundance. 

The following table indicates the approximate proportions in which 
the chief species occurred: 

Per cent. 

Mucket 30 

Long niggerhead 10 

Fluted-shell 20 

Pig-toe 10 

Various small species .SO 

A little farther down the river deeper water was encountered and 
the crow-foot dredge was employed to advantage, taking large 
muckets and pocketbooks. As before, mussels were found just above 
the shoals and on the shoals. In every small shoal examined in this 
vicinity it appeared that the greater part of the best shells had been 
opened and thrown away by the pearl hunters. Although the shells 
were muddy and dirty, they were found to be in good condition for 
button manufacture. 

The commercial value of such shells was explained to the pearl 
hunters, who were advised to seek a market for this material. It was 
learned that few pearls had been found during the preceding summer, 
so that a market for the shells was practically necessary to supple- 
ment the income from the yield of pearls. It was estimated that 
about three-fourths of the open mussels were of good commercial 
value and that 2 carloads of shells could be obtained in the imme- 
diate vicinity. 

The character of the bottom of the river and banks corresponds to 
that hitherto described. The following species were observed to be 
in breeding condHion: Mucket (Lampsilis ligamentina), pocketbook 
{L. ventricosa), black sand-shell (L. recta), fluted-shell (Symphynota 
costata), oyster mussel (Truncilla perplexa), sugar-spoon (T. arcse- 
formis), kidney-shell (Ptychohranchus phaseolus), and others. 

Large piles of shells made by the muskrats were examined on an 
island, where it was noted that about one-third of the shells were the 
spectacle-case {Margaritana monodonta). From this point down, 
the spectacle-case was found to be more abundant than before. Long 



10 MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 

Meiers Shoal was found to have abundant mussels, and on other shoals 
several miles lower on the river, where the w^ater was shallow (6 to 
18 inches deep) and rapid over a rough bottom, there were observed- 
large numbers of the best shells, which had been recently discarded 
by |:earl hunters. Examination of the bottom by means of the rake 
was made in many different places, but practically no shells were 
found except the finest muckets. It was estimated that a carload of 
shells could be obtained in that vicinity. 

At a point 5 miles lower, where the river bottom w^as composed of 
rocks and small gravel, mussels of large size were found. On the 
29th, Cloud Shoals was reached and investigated. On account of the 
compactness of the bottom, the rake formerly used was discarded 
for a common pitchfork, with which the mussels could be more easily 
obtained. Various species were found, but the chief shell was the- 
mucket. Elephant-ear and fluted-sheUs were observed to be decreas- 
ing in abundance the farther the investigation was continued down 
tlie river. 

A little lower on the river a pearl himter w^as observed taking the 
mussels by the rather crude method of using an iron hook to pry the 
mussel from the bottom and push it into a tin can that was 
lowered to the bottom. He reported that pearls were more fre- 
quently found in mussels taken from the deep water, possibly because 
tlie older and larger shells were to be found in such a location. 

Mr. Boepple was informed of a unique method of mussel fishing 
sometimes pursued in that vicinity. By using a plow drawn by a 
strong team and working where the water had a depth of 4 to 12 
inches, the bottom is thoroughly plowed up so that the mussels can 
easily be picked from the surface. 

Another good mussel shoal was found just before reacliing the 
mouth of Powell River, a short distance from Agee. 

A brief examination was made October 30 of the lower portion of 
the Powell River, the bottom of which, in this region, is described as 
being of limestone and gravel. One bank is rocky, with high blufTsy 
while the other is bordered by good farming lands. Mr. Boepple 
employed a pair of tongs, somewhat similar to blacksmith's tongs, 
with which he could w^ork in 5 feet of water. The chief mussels 
taken in the lower portion of the river were three-ridges and fluted- 
sheUs. A little higher up a great many muckets, black sand-shells, 
three-ridges, and hatchet-backs were encountered. Three pearl 
fishers working together in one boat were found prosecuting their 
work, two men manipulating the boat, while the tliird collected the 
mussels, using a small fork with long handle. 

The mussels of the Powell River have not so high a commercial 
value as those of the Clinch. The muckets, w^hich w^ere mostly old 
mussels, constituted about one-fourth of the shells. The three-ridges, 
were listed as without commercial value. 



MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. H 

Working at a point on the Clinch River a quarter of a mile above 
its mouth, it was observed that along the banks chiefl^'^ small mussels 
were found, while in the middle portion of the river large examples 
of muckets, niggerheads, and pocketbooks could be taken. The 
shells were found in the bottom at a depth of from 1 to 10 inches; it 
was thought that the mussels buried themselves on account of the 
low stage of the water. Below Agee the bottom was composed 
mostly of large rocks instead of shoals and gravel, the mussels laying 
between the rocks. Many fine large mussels could be taken by using 
the tongs. 

As the investigation was continued down the river, October 31 and 
November 1, many shoals were examined, as well as the piles of 
mussel shells made by muskrats or by pearl hunters along the river 
banks. Pearl hunters were observed taking mussels with the use of 
a long stick, which was inserted into the opening of the shell and 
upon which the mussel would close and hold with sufRcient firmness 
to be brought up to the surface. Small dip nets were used to pick 
up mussels that were lying on the rocks. Another method was the 
use of a long pike-pole, on the handle of which was a steel spring 
which could be pushed down over the mussel. At this point, only a 
short distance above Clinton, the three-horned warty-back, golf- 
stick, and butterfly were first encountered. 

About 1^ miles above Clinton a shoal called Moores Ferry was 
carefully examined. On one side the bottom was composed of a very 
soft gravel, in which no mussels were found. About 50 feet from the 
bank, however, the gravel was firmer and there were mussels. On 
the whole, very few mussels were taken, and it was thought that the 
beds were practically exhausted as the result of the persistent fishery 
in the region of Clinton. Lower down the river piles of mussel shells 
were found, which had been taken by pearl hunters working where 
the water had a depth of 10 to 15 feet. 

COMMERCIAL VALUE OF MUSSELS FROM THE CLINCH RIVER, 

Mr. Boepple rated the mussels of the Clinch River as having par- 
ticularly high market values. The niggerhead is not quite so good 
as the Ohio River niggerhead, but it should bring a fair price. The 
pig-toe of the Clinch River is of much better quality than those of the 
Ohio River; the black sand-shell is of extra fine quality. The sugar- 
spoon and oyster mussel could be used for very small buttons; the 
white pimple-back is of moderate value, and the fan mussel produces 
good buttons, though its color in this region turns to common pink. 
Mr. Boepple made the following statement in his notes: ''The Clinch 
and Holston Rivers have the best mussels for buttons that I have 
seen in all my experience in the button business." 

The following table includes the result of commercial tests of 
shells taken from the Clinch River near Clinton, Tenn., and from 



12 MUSSEL RESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH RIVERS. 

Powell River. The diameter of blanks is expressed in ''lines" 
(1 line = jV inch), and "T" in the columns indicates "tips," uneven 
blanks of poor quality. 

Commercial Valuation of Mussel Shells Taken from Clinch and Powell 

Rivers. 



Common name. 



» 


XI 


s 


^^ 




a . 


a> 

S3 


S 


a a 
S2 




a . 


















& 


sp 


g 


a 


si 


3 


s 


a " 


O" 


^; 


Z 


Lbs. 






i 


22 


523 


2 


164 


976 


2 


8 


46 


2 


9 


53 


2 


47T 


279 


2 


18 


107 


2 


58 


345 


2 


60 


357 


2 


69 


410 


2 


82 


488 


1 


38 


452 


5 


142 


338 


5 


311 


740 


2 


20 


119 


2 


148 


880 


1 


82 


976 


5 


360 


857 


5 


46 


119 


5 


118 


280 


2 


89 


529 


2 


94T 


559 


1 


10 


119 


1 


71 


845 


1 


16 


190 


1 


57 


678 


1 


67 


799 


1 


124 


1,476 


1 


48 


571 


5 


2Q4d 


485 


1 


10 


119 


1 


68T 


800 


5 


19 


45 


5 


140 


326 


5 


45 


107 


5 


228 


542 





a 




a 




Ut 




p. 


S 


i2s 








rt jg 








— o 


P. 






» 


3 


3 






C8 




> 


> 


Cents. 




4 


$20. 92 


2 


19.52 


18 


8.28 


12 


6.36 


1 


2.79 


10 


10.70 


3 


10.35 


5 


17.85 


1 


4.10 


6 


29.28 


4 


18.08 


8 


27.40 


7 


' 51.80 


4 


4.76 


2 


17.60 


3 


29.28 


/ 


59.99 


15 


16.35 


6 


16.80 


3 


15.81 


1 


5.59 


4 


4.76 


3 


25.35 


4 


7.60 


2 


13.56 


3 


23. 97 


2 


29.52 


4 


22. 84 


2 


9.70 


4 


4.76 


1 


8.00 


15 


66.75 


5 


b 16.30 


12 


f 12.74 


4 


C21.68 



2a 



CLINCH RIVEE. 

Anderson County near 
Clinton. 

^"Uhead 

Kidney shell 

Pig-toe 

RiageJ warty-back ... 

Pocketbook 

Black niggerhead 

Pig toe 

Yellow-back mucket. . 

Black sand-shell 

Vnion County. 

Pimple-back 

Yellow-back mucket . . 

Pocketbook 

Grandma 

Black sand-shell 

Qrainger County. 
Black sand-shell 



Ringed warty-back . 

POWELL EIVER. 

Campbell County. 



Three-ridge 

Black sand-shell. 



Yellow-back mucket. 



Pleurobema aesopus 

Ptychobranchias phaseolus.. 
Quadrula obliqua 

Cyprogenia irrorata 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Quadrula coccinea? 

Quadrula obliqua 

Lampsilis lit;amentina gibba 

Lampsilus recta 

Quadrula pustulata 

Lampsilis ligamentiaa gibba 

Lampsilis ventricosa 

Lampsilis ovata 

Lampsilis recta 

Lampsilis recta 

Quadrula coceinea 

Quadrula coceinea, small 

Cyprogenia irrorata 

Quadrula undulata 

Lampsilis recta 

Lampsilis ligamentina gibba 



Lines. 
20 
16 
36 
30 
16 
30 
18 
24 
16 
20 
20 
24 
20 
24 
16 



5§ 
14 



13 
13 
5 
5 

(") 
5 
9 

17i 



19J 

10 

10 



Not stated. 



6 I>arge. 



d Second grade blanks and tips. 



It will be noted from the above table that the same lot of shells 
was in some cases tested for two sizes of blanks, as in the case of the 
last lot of L. ligamentina gihha, or yellow-back mucket, shown in 
the table. The shells were first tested for 30-line buttons, and the 



MUSSEL KESOURCES OF THE HOLSTON AND CLINCH EIVEES. 13 

value of the blanks obtained was estimated to amount to $12.74; the 
remaining parts of the same shells were then used again, cutting out 
228 blanks and tips of 20 lines and the value of these was estimated 
at $21.68 per ton of shells. Thus, if the shells were worked twice for 
the two sizes of blanks, the total value of the product obtained would 
be $34.42 per ton. The shells were not especially selected for testing 
and the results should give an approximately correct idea of the com- 
mercial value of the mussels of the Clinch River from the region 
investigated, after making all necessary allowances for handling, 
transportation, etc. 

As far as known no shells had been shipped for the button market 
prior to the time of IVIr. Boepple's mvestigation, although at that 
time some shells were being collected near Clinton, and a single car 
of shells reached the market late in that season, 1909. Pearls had 
been sought for a great many years, but the value of the shells was 
entirely unappreciated. It required some time, in fact, for the resi- 
dents to realize that this neglected resource was of substantial value. 
In the following seasons, 1910 and 1911, several carloads were collected 
and sold for button manufacture. Durmg the season of 1912, as is 
understood, the search for shells is being pursued with greater vigor, 
even up into the headwaters of these rivers, in the Appalachians, and 
it is expected that larger shipments will be made. 

The streams are small and can not make a significant bulk 3aeld, 
but the quality of the shell product, as well as the value of the pearls, 
is such as to justify careful attention to the fishery and the proper 
protection of the beds from depletion. 

o 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




